My first post+goodbye Leipzig!

I had an amazing time in Leipzig.  I was waiting to gain familiarity with the place and vast change in culture before posting.  I enjoyed the beautiful city more each day. Our first concert, we saw a fantastic brass quintet.  I got to sit with an excellent view of the tubist, which was very entertaining. The trumpets played here are mostly rotary valve, which is, in my humble opinion, pretty badass.

Our second event was the Three Penny Opera, which was my first ever opera, although I have been told that it was not very traditional.  It was very quirky, though, and I found it extremely comical.  

Last night's concert was my favorite so far. It was my first-ever professional orchestra concert, and that was the Gewandhaus Orchestra.  We sat behind the orchestra and got to watch the conductor's facial expressions, along with the occasional audible grunt! It was by far the best concert I have ever witnessed, and I am excited to continue experiencing many firsts on this trip.  

Claire took this picture as we began our trek to Berlin this morning! Think I have enough junk to carry? I do!

Behind my head here is the keyed trumpet in the Mendelssohn house! We were trumpet-nerding real hard on this one!  

The beer here is DELICIOUS.  Everything is tasty and very, very fresh (the baked goods, omg) and I am already dreading going back to the inferior U.S. food.


Here was my first big weiner off a cart in Leipzig! Bigger than my head, and quite tasty! Had to try it since Dr. Powell has been raving about them (and practically drooling) ever since we ever started talking about this trip.